Claudia Winkleman reveals psychologist pal ‘saved her’ after daughter’s horrific trick or treat accident – The Sun
CLAUDIA Winkleman has revealed how a psychologist pal "saved" her after a devastating accident that saw her daughter Matilda set on fire during a Halloween event.
In 2014, Matilda, then eight, was set on fire when the cape on her Halloween witch’s costume went up in flames after catching the open flame of a candle in a carved pumpkin.
Claudia took time out from Strictly Come Dancing that year to focus on Matilda, but she has now revealed that it was child and adolescent clinical psychologist Tanya Byron who "put her back together".
"I just knew I would need Tanya," said Claudia.
"I did [need her] and she put me back together again, let’s just say that. I am incredibly lucky that I happen to have an incredible friend who happens to be in my eyes the world’s best clinical psychologist and I was facing something that felt difficult."
Speaking to The Times, she added: "I don’t want to use big words because I have to be respectful to [my daughter] and the rest of my family, but Tanya genuinely, well, she saved me."
A neighbour said at the time that the outfit went up “like a fireball”.
Claudia was with the group, and remained at Matilda's side as she was rushed to hospital by ambulance.
Matilda, now 12, suffered severe burns on her leg.
The 47-year-old mother-of-three went on Watchdog a year later to warn parents to check the materials on all outfits, and asked parents to buy costumes that meet the British nightwear flammability standard (BS5722 TEST 3).
"I was talking to somebody and then I heard her shout and she was on fire. It feels like she was on fire for hours, but the surgeon said it was probably just seconds," revealed Claudia.
"She went up is the only way I know how to describe it – it was a spark and she screamed out for me.
"It was like those horrific birthday candles that you blow out and they come back. It was really fast, it was fast, it wasn’t fire like I’d seen."
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